QE2 is biggest star at New Year party

Sounds like the New Year’s Eve party on board QE2 was a bit of a strange affair, with the guests hardly being allowed inside the ship, and even having to use Portaloos on the outer decks rather than put a strain on the original plumbing.
Lindsay Lohan had threatened legal action to prevent the organisers suggesting she was going to be attending and there was no sign of the promised Pamela Anderson – partying in Las Vegas instead. Tennis stars Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer – who were in nearby Abu Dhabi for a match – chose an early night over the canapes on offer on board.
Organisers had promised a star-studded guest-list including royalty as well as celebrities. So congratulations to Vanessa Feltz and Lady Victoria Hervey for managing to get hold of tickets. They were joined by ex-cricketer Allan Lamb, Lisa Scott Lee from Steps, and Nadine Coyle from Girls Aloud.
As the picture above (courtesy of gulfnews.com) shows, even the spirit of Princess Di was watching over proceedings as Lady Victoria arrived
Entertainment included a video showing highlights of QE2’s 40-year career, screened during the two hours guests were held on the quayside at Port Rashid. Once on board they were entertained by the Bootleg Beatles, and treated to fireworks which were apparently outshone by the rival display at Downtown Dubai.
And it must have been a chilly evening in Dubai if organisers thought it necessary to fire up the patio heaters on the aft decks in the picture below.
But at least QE2 was doing something after being left to lie idle since 2008. It just seems a shame that the organisers had to station security guards by lift doors to stop the guests wandering around the ship which, as Dubai’s The National reported, “is a far bigger celebrity than any of the names that may or may not have been on-board. ”